Beacon College Announces Honorary Degree for Congressman Webster

LEESBURG, FL — Beacon College will award a single honorary degree at its commencement exercises for the Class of 2016 on Saturday, May 7, Beacon President George J. Hagerty announced Friday.

The recipient is U.S. Rep. Daniel Webster, a three-term congressman serving Florida’s 10th Congressional District, which includes Leesburg.

“Beacon College is pleased to honor Congressman Webster, known for his thrifty stewardship of taxpayer money, but perhaps lesser known for championing the mission to educate the public about the realities of learning disabilities,” Hagerty said. “He has opened the door for Beacon College to assume a pivotal role in the discourse revolving around supporting with federal dollars the college dreams of students with learning differences.”

Webster served in the Florida Legislature for nearly 30 years, including stints as Speaker of the Florida House and Majority Leader in the Florida Senate, before graduating in 2010 to the U.S. House of Representatives.

From rolling back a portion of salary the past five years to returning more than $2 million of his Congressional office’s operational budget over the same stretch, Webster has become synonymous with political parsimony.

Commencement will take place at 11:30 a.m. at Lake Receptions in Mount Dora, Fla.